MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) turned down the appeal of Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas for a shift to the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ) status.
IATF-EID co-chairman Karlo Alexei Nograles confirmed to Panay News yesterday that the city would remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until July 15, as earlier approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government undersecretary Epimaco Densing advised the Iloilo City government to improve, among others, its health care utilization rate (HCUR) which was at “high risk” status (81.39 percent) as of June 27.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6 showed the utilization of beds and mechanical ventilators (both components of HCUR) at 83.19 percent and 70.37 percent, respectively.
Densing assured Treñas that the Regional Task Force and the Regional IATF would boost the city government’s coronavirus pandemic response.
On Tuesday, Treñas asked the IATF-EID to allow Iloilo City to shift to GCQ but with heightened restrictions. He said businesses in the city must start recovering.
In his letter, Treñas cited these reasons why the IATF-EID should downgrade the city’s quarantine status:
* downward movement of Iloilo City’s daily coronavirus cases
* aggressive vaccination of priority residents
* manageable capacity utilization rate
* effective protocols imposed in lowering COVID cases
* Iloilo City COVID-19 Team being active and decisive with regards to pandemic response
Iloilo City shifted to MECQ in April due to fast coronavirus transmission overwhelming various hospitals.
ROQUE ARRIVES TODAY
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is set to arrive in Iloilo City around 9 a.m. today to deliver 50,000 doses of vaccines and other medical equipment, said Treñas.
Roque would be accompanied by DOH undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega.
In a statement last week, Treñas said he was informed by Roque and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on the visit with the needed “supplies and solutions” to the city’s COVID situation.
“I thank the national government for supporting the Ilonggos in addressing the pandemic,” Treñas said.
According to Treñas, the secretaries informed him they were looking for solutions to:
* lack of vaccines
* Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) problem of unpaid bills to hospitals amounting to almost P1 billion
* lack of medical personnel
* lack of COVID medicines
* lack of equipment like ventilators and high flow oxygen cannula
The mayor has chosen the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand as the venue for the vaccine turnover.
Several governors, including Iloilo’s Arthur Defensor Jr. might also arrive to participate in the turnover./PN
